Bovine Tuberculosis

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 377-9W, on bovine tuberculosis, in how many  (a) counties and  (b) parishes in England bovine tuberculosis had not been confirmed in the preceding four years in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2008.

Jane Kennedy: Total numbers are as follows:
	 (a)(i) Counties(1) in England where bovine tuberculosis had not been confirmed 1994-97: 14.
	 (a)(ii)Counties(1) in England where bovine tuberculosis had not been confirmed 2005-08: six.
	 (b)(i) Number of parishes in England without a confirmed bovine TB incident 1994-97: 10,199.
	 (b)(ii) Number of parishes in England without a confirmed bovine TB incident 2005-08: 8,670.
	(1) Counties as recorded on the Animal Health Vetnet system.
	 Source:
	Data for these answers has been drawn from the Animal Health Vetnet system, the TB in Cattle System and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency's TB Culture System.

Departmental Computers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many laptop computers have been provided to  (a) Ministers,  (b) special advisers and  (c) civil servants in his Department in each year since 2005; and at what cost.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA outsourced IT provision to IBM in 2004, where the Department pays a service charge for provision and maintenance of desktop systems based on a usage model, i.e. we are charged for the number of laptops used on the estate each month as staff numbers change. DEFRA monitor the consumption of services rather the stock holding of laptops. Service consumption is managed in accordance with a device policy that limits users to a single laptop by default. Exceptions to the single device policy will include kit available for hot desks, training rooms, special needs/power users.
	We are unable to provide a breakdown of past usage as this would require a manual trawl of historical data that would incur disproportionate cost. We have provided the usage figures for March 2009 for the core-Department for information:
	 (a) Ministers: two;
	 (b) Special advisers: two
	 (c) Civil servants: 3,301(1)
	DEFRA cannot provide information on the costs associated with IBM's laptop services, as this would put the Department in breach of its confidentiality undertakings to IBM.
	(1) On the assumption that civil servants equates to end users—i.e. both civil servants and contractors working within the Department.

Departmental Personnel

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 29 September 2008,  Official Report, column 2413W, on departmental personnel, how many staff without posts there are in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies; how many of the staff without posts were classified as such upon return from maternity leave; and how many of the staff without posts have been classified as such for at least (i) six and (ii) 12 months.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The number of people in the Department and our agencies without posts has reduced significantly since our answer of 29 September 2008 from 89 to six. Five of these staff are in core DEFRA and one is in the Animal Health Agency.
	With regard to these six that remain without posts:
	 (a) None of the people were classified as being without posts as a result of returning from maternity leave.
	 (b) (i) None have been classified as such less than 12 months; (ii) six have been classified as such for at least 12 months.
	All of these individuals are actively undertaking job search opportunities, have been offered outplacement support and, where possible, have been undertaking short-term assignments.
	We are, in the near future, expecting this total of six without posts to reduce further still. This is due either as a result of the individuals being successful in finding a new role within the civil service or, where this proves not possible, moving towards redundancy.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 826-7W, on economic situation, what expenditure under what budgetary heading  (a) his Department incurred in relation to its internal conference for members of the senior Civil Service held in October 2008 and  (b) follow up workshops expenditure.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The cost of the senior civil service conference in October 2008 was £16,064.76. £6,687.11 was spent on venue hire and catering and £9,377.65 was spent on facilitation of the event.
	There were no costs incurred for the following workshops.

Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department's research project WR0105 Project REDUCE monitoring and evaluation—developing tools to measure waste prevention has been completed; and what funding the EU INTERREG programme provided for the project.

Jane Kennedy: Output from the project (WR0105) "Project REDUCE Monitoring and Evaluation: Developing Tools to Measure Waste Prevention" has been incorporated into the review study referred to in the response to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) on 14 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1050W, on Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal, and will be published at the same time, later in 2009.
	No funding from the EU Interreg programme was provided for the project.

Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which local authorities are participating in the research project, understanding waste growth at local authority level—WR0121; and what budget his Department has set for the programme.

Jane Kennedy: The local authorities providing case study information for "Understanding waste growth at local authority level" (WR0121) are:
	Ribble Valley Borough Council,
	East Riding of Yorkshire Council,
	Hambleton District Council,
	Broadland District Council,
	Hart District Council,
	London Borough of Islington,
	South Norfolk District Council,
	Hyndburn Borough Council,
	Mole Valley District Council,
	Milton Keynes Council,
	Basildon District Council,
	Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council,
	Wakefield Council,
	Sandwell MBC,
	London Borough of Sutton,
	Birmingham City Council,
	Tonbridge and Mailing Borough Council,
	Somerset County Council,
	Stirling Council,
	Cardiff City Council,
	Powys County Council,
	Derby City Council,
	Rother District Council,
	Rhondda Cynon Taf,
	Flintshire County Council,
	Belfast City Council,
	Down District Council; and
	West Dunbartonshire Council.
	The budget for this project is £90,585 in total (£85,585 from DEFRA and £5,000 from the Welsh Assembly Government).

Radioactive Waste: Waste Management

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what expressions of interest his Department has received from local authorities to host nuclear waste disposal sites further to the consultation on managing radioactive waste safety.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	Geological disposal involves placing higher activity radioactive waste in an engineered underground containment facility designed so that natural barriers and man-made barriers work together to minimise the escape of radioactivity over the long timescales required to allow the radioactivity to decay.
	Coupled with the "Managing Radioactive Waste Safely" White Paper published on 12 June 2008, was an invite to communities to 'express an interest' in entering without commitment discussions on the possibility of hosting a geological disposal facility at some point in the future .
	Since then Expressions of Interest have been made by Copeland borough council (July 2008), Cumbria county council (December 2008) and Allerdale borough council (February 2009).
	The option to express an interest will be left open for the foreseeable future and we hope that this is the beginning of a number of approaches to Government.

Roads

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance is issued to local highways authorities on reduction of guardrail street clutter on road crossings.

Paul Clark: This month the Department for Transport published Local Transport Note 2/09 Pedestrian Guardrailing, which provides guidance for local highway authorities on the provision and removal of pedestrian guardrail at locations such as road crossings. In March last year the department published Local Transport Note 1/08 Traffic Management and Streetscape, which provides more general guidance on how local highway authorities can minimise street clutter when designing traffic management schemes. Both publications are available via the Department's website.

Parliament Square: Demonstrations

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what discussions the House of Commons Commission has had with the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis about the demonstration which took place in Parliament Square on 20 April 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The House of Commons Commission has not had contact with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis; as Mr. Speaker has said in the House the Serjeant at Arms is his contact with the Commissioner on all such matters.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what recent progress her Office has made towards the Government's target of increasing its energy efficiency per square metre of the Government Estate by 15 per cent. by 2010, relative to 1999-2000; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office (Kevin Brennan) on 26 March 2009,  Official Report, column 711W.

Members: Allowances

Dai Davies: To ask the Leader of the House what account she took of submissions made to the Members' Estimate Committee in preparing the proposals to alter hon. Members' allowances announced on 21 April 2009.

Chris Bryant: A range of information and views have been considered.

Culture: Olympic Games 2012

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the component parts of tier  (a) two and  (b) three of the Cultural Olympiad are; what the cost of each part is estimated to be; and what the source of funding of each part is.

Barbara Follett: The Cultural Olympiad is a four-year developing programme of cultural activity, comprising Ceremonies (formerly tier one); Major projects (formerly tier two); and Inspire Mark projects (formerly tier three).
	Around 10 national major projects will take place across the country. Each major project is at a different stage of development. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympics Games (LOCOG) are working with their partners to develop the detailed plan for each of these projects, which includes a consideration of costs and options for funding. So far, LOCOG seed funding together with a range of partners including DCMS NDPBs, cultural organisations, and the Legacy Trust, plan to spend at least £40 million.
	Inspire Mark projects within the Cultural Olympiad will focus on local and regional cultural activity. The content, cost and funding for these projects is determined by the organisations choosing to take advantage of this opportunity. Already, 50 projects within the Cultural Olympiad have been awarded the Inspire Mark.

Film: Licensing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 29 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 687-8W, on film: licensing, whether local residents within a local authority area may submit for review the classification of a film shown in cinemas within the area on grounds that it contravenes the licence.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The exhibition of a film is regulated entertainment under Schedule 1 of the Licensing Act 2003. If a premises licence or club premises certificate authorises the exhibition of a film, sections 20 or 74 of the Act make it mandatory for a condition to be included in the premises licence or certificate requiring the admission of children to films to be restricted in accordance with recommendations given either by the British Board of Film Classification or by the licensing authority itself.
	The Licensing Authority can choose to adopt its own classification, although the Guidance issued under the Licensing Act recommends that licensing authorities should not duplicate the effort underpinning the BBFC's classification.
	A licence or certificate could be revoked or withdrawn on an application for review by an interested party (which could include a local resident), if the licence or certificate owner breached the mandatory condition outlined above, or otherwise acted in a way which contravened the licensing objectives.
	Local residents would not, however, have a basis for challenging the classification of a film by the BBFC or the local authority under the Licensing Act 2003. The classification decision is a matter which falls outside the regulation of the premises licence or club premises certificate under the Licensing Act 2003. To challenge a classification of a film given by the BBFC or the local authority, local residents would have to pursue alternative avenues e.g. seek a judicial review.

Electoral Register

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many electoral identity cards have been  (a) issued and  (b) reported as lost or stolen in each year since they were introduced in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: This is an operational matter for the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland. The hon. Member may wish to write to him directly.

Afghanistan: Water

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the proportion of the Afghan population with access to clean water supplies  (a) in 2000 and  (b) at the latest date for which information is available.

Gareth Thomas: Historical data on Afghanistan is poor and it is not possible to provide an estimate of the proportion of the Afghan population with access to clean water supplies in 2000.
	The Government of Afghanistan carried out a National Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (NRVA) in 2007. The preliminary estimates from this report found that 41 per cent. of the Afghan population have access to safe drinking water (urban and rural).
	The full results from this report will be available on the Central Statistics Office, Afghanistan website:
	http://www.cso.gov.af/

Departmental ICT

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate has been made of the proportion of personal computers in each of his Department's offices that are turned off  (a) overnight,  (b) at weekends and  (c) during holiday periods; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development's (DFID) policy is that all personal electrical equipment, including computers, printers and photocopiers must be switched off when not in use. The latest weekly check on DFID's two offices in the United Kingdom reported that 77 per cent. of electrical equipment had been switched off. It would incur disproportionate cost to break this information down as requested and to isolate personal computers from other equipment.

Developing Countries: Agriculture

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department plans to implement the findings of the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development.

Michael Foster: The International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) present findings and a range of options for different stakeholders (governments, private sector, academics and civil society) to consider. These findings are neither prescriptive nor legally binding on any party. The Department for International Development (DFID) has looked at these findings to help determine its support to developing countries on agricultural knowledge, science and technology.
	DFID has already taken action in line with IAASTD's findings. Last April the Secretary of State announced a doubling of DFID's investment in agricultural research to a total of £400 million over five years. This investment will include research on environmentally sustainable solutions, focus on the needs of farmers, address gender issues, look at the impact of markets on poor farmers, and support traditional and modern technologies.

Sierra Leone: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what management and accounting mechanisms are in place to audit financial aid from his Department to Sierra Leone delivered through the  (a) World Bank,  (b) United Nations and  (c) African Development Bank.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development (DFID) has developed a number of formal documents which cover financial relationships with the multilateral agencies. These ensure consistent strict financial reporting arrangements are maintained. When necessary DFID undertakes independent audits of funds used in joint programmes.
	Standardised reporting relationships, for both financial resources and measuring impact are beneficial to DFID and our development partners. These agreements are regularly reviewed to ensure they are contemporary and reflect new legislation.

St Helena: Public Expenditure

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been spent on St Helena from the public purse in the last 20 years, expressed in current prices adjusted for inflation.

Ivan Lewis: The cost of bilateral support to the Government of St. Helena over the last 20 years, provided through DFID or its predecessor Department, is set out in the following table (current prices in £ million):
	
		
			   £ million 
			   Expenditure 
			 2007-08 17.6 
			 2006-07 16.1 
			 2005-06 14.3 
			 2004-05 15.6 
			 2003-04 11.7 
			 2002-03 10.9 
			 2001-02 11.9 
			 2000-01 12.2 
			 1999-2000 11.4 
			 1998-99 10.9 
			 1997-98 11.2 
			 1996-97 10.4 
			 1995-96 12.5 
			 1994-95 11.4 
			 1993-94 12.8 
			 1992-93 13.2 
			 1991-92 13.6 
			 1990-91 18.5 
			 1989-90 41.3 
			 1988-89 38.2 
		
	
	These figures do not include assistance that DFID has provided since 2004 to non-governmental groups on St. Helena for environmental conservation projects. This amounted to approximately £400,000 over the five year period.
	In addition to DFID/ODA assistance, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has funded a small number of discrete projects through its Overseas Territories Programme Fund. The total for St. Helena over the last two financial years amounts to just over £400,000. Further information cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.
	St. Helena has also benefited from other sources of public funding through financial assistance from the European Union (approximately £13 million in the last 12 years), the United Nations Development Programme (approximately £1.6 million in the last 12 years) and the World Health Organisation ($400,000 every two years).
	The values of these further amounts are stated in cash prices.

Terrorism: Finance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2009,  Official Report, column 791 on terrorism: finance, which of the projects aimed at addressing the development-related causes of radicalisation are delivered by subcontractors; and what measures are in place to monitor the performance of such subcontractors.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) works with a wide range of partners to deliver our projects: private contractors, civil society organisations, international agencies and developing country governments. DFID's standard operating procedures require that all projects be monitored regularly to ensure the agreed scope of work is delivered to a satisfactory standard by the lead provider or contractor, and their subcontractors. Measuring the achievement of outputs/outcomes against performance indicators, and addressing any emerging problems in a timely way, are key aspects of DFID's approach to project management. Each individual project's value and risk assessment will determine the appropriate level of monitoring undertaken. Measures to manage the risks identified in project plans are also reviewed regularly, in line with the Department's guidance on risk management.

Aircraft Carriers: Rosyth

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many jobs he estimates will be created in east central Scotland consequent upon the construction of the new aircraft carriers at Rosyth.

Quentin Davies: It is expected that the current core workforce for Rosyth Dockyard of around 1,200 will rise to around 1,400 at peak production of the carriers. In addition MacTaggart Scott and Co. Ltd. who employ 245 staff at the Loanhead site, Nr Edinburgh, were awarded the contract for the manufacture of aircraft lifts for the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers. Further additional jobs may be created in second and third tier suppliers in the area.

Rescue Services

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made towards bringing the Search and Rescue capability provided by his Department and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency together as a single service.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minster for Defence Equipment and Support, (Mr. Davies) on 13 January 2009,  Official Report, column 559W, to the hon. Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey).

Community Relations: Finance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1481W, on community relations: finance, how much of the work in prisons aimed at tackling vulnerability to radicalisation and being funded by the National Offender Management Service and partner agencies is being delivered by sub-contractors; and what mechanisms are in place to monitor the performance of such sub-contractors.

Jack Straw: I have been asked to reply.
	The Home Office funds one mentoring scheme which operates within prisons. Evaluation of this scheme is being undertaken by an independent third party under the supervision of the research team in the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism.

Identity Cards: Disclosure of Information

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 508-9W, on disclosure of information: identity cards, what steps she plans to take following the latest Information Tribunal ruling requiring the disclosure of the Gateway Review documents.

Phil Woolas: The Identity and Passport Service and the Office of Government Commerce have published two Gateway Reviews documents on the Identity Cards programme.
	Electronic copies of the two reports are available on the Identity and Passport Service website at:
	www.ips.gov.uk

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 18 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, on Mr Alam Khan.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 25 March 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 25 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, on Shahin Vasi.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 17 March 2009.

Overseas Students

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she takes to ensure that those in possession of overseas student visas continue to be enrolled students and work no more than 20 hours a week.

Phil Woolas: Individuals granted leave to enter or remain in the UK must continue to meet the requirements under which that leave was granted and comply with any conditions attached to that grant of leave, including any restrictions on the amount and type of work they can do.
	If a student fails to enrol on a course of study, or ceases attending, they may have their leave curtailed or a future application refused.
	Educational establishments are encouraged to report non-enrolment or non-attendance to the UK Border Agency and a facility exists to provide this information on our website.
	Under the new points based system for migrants, educational establishments must be licensed by the UK Border Agency and, in order to retain their licence, comply with a number of duties. These include reporting to the UK Border Agency any overseas student who fails to enrol, or stops attending their approved course of study. Educational establishments who fail to comply with these duties will risk having their licence withdrawn and will not therefore be able to bring in overseas students under Tier 4.
	Details of the new arrangements were published on our website:
	www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/tier4
	on 9 March. A copy will be placed in the House Library.
	Where a student is found to be in breach of these conditions there are a range of sanctions that the UK Border Agency can use, including fines, prosecution and removal. Those employers who knowingly allow overseas nationals to take employment without the appropriate immigration permission may be fined up to £10,000.
	The Government are committed to tackling those people who abuse the immigration laws. To aid this we have focused over 1,000 additional immigration staff on enforcement duties including working with local employers and colleges to support compliance with sponsor obligations and the law.

Repatriation: Zimbabwe

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Zimbabwean citizens were repatriated to Zimbabwe from the UK in 2008.

Phil Woolas: In 2008, 375 Zimbabwean nationals were removed or voluntarily departed from the UK to Zimbabwe.
	National Statistics on removals and voluntary departures in 2008 from the UK, by country of nationality and destination are published in the supplementary Excel Table I of the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary United Kingdom Q4 2008 bulletin. Copies of this publication are available from the Library of the House and the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/immiq408.pdf
	supplementary tables:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/immiq408supp.xls)
	Published statistics on immigration and asylum are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html

Departmental Public Expenditure

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, column 625W, on departmental public expenditure, what activities have been  (a) delayed in 2008-09 and  (b) identified for delay in 2009-10 at embassies in (i) Amman, (ii) Lagos, (iii) New Delhi and (iv) Brussels.

David Miliband: holding answer 27 March 2009
	The posts concerned received over £4 million of Overseas Price Movements (OPM) mechanism uplifts in 2008-09 in order to maintain the purchasing power of their budget and to ensure they could deliver their strategic objectives without delaying activity.
	However, in some of these posts there were some delays to low priority capital expenditure, including accommodation improvements, as we did not provide OPM for capital expenditure.
	Work on 2009-10 budget setting has recently concluded and posts are currently finalising their activity plans against their resource allocation.

Iran: Arms Trade

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UN Sanctions Committee has received reports from  (a) Iran and  (b) Syria on the shipment of arms-related material from Iran to Syria in the vessel MV Monchegorsk.

David Miliband: On 9 March 2009, the Chairman of the UN Security Council's Iran Sanctions Committee requested reports from both Iran and Syria on this incident, which was in violation of a legally-binding chapter VII Security Council resolution.
	Syria replied to the Chairman of the Iran Sanctions Committee on 17 March 2009.
	Iran did not reply directly, but issued a press statement on 31 March 2009 claiming that the shipment was "within the framework of normal trade transactions".
	The letter from Syria included no denial that sanctions had been breached. We are pressing through the Committee to ensure full implementation of the measures prescribed in UN Security Council resolutions 1737 (2006) 1747 ( 2007) and 1803 (2008)and gain a full explanation for the breach from the countries concerned. All states have an obligation to comply fully with mandatory measures imposed by the UN Security Council.

Latin America: Conflict Prevention

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what schemes are being funded under the Conflict Prevention Pool programme in Latin America; and what assessment he has made of the impact of the withdrawal of UK funding on these schemes.

Bill Rammell: The schemes funded by the Latin America Conflict Prevention Pool are listed in the following table:
	
		
			  Country  Project 
			 Colombia Regional Humanitarian Mine Action and Training Centre 
			  Strengthening the effective and transparent implementation of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights through the engagement of civil society organisations 
			  Strengthening economic reintegration policy for Internally-Displaced Persons through increased involvement of the private sector 
			  Implementation of Colombian Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s Human Rights policy - promotion of Security Forces' protection and prevention role in relation to forced displacement 
			  Supporting the Colombian MoD's Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law policy through implementation of Best Practices in Chain of Custody 
			  Strengthening investigations of Forced Disappearances through improved case-management and chain of custody protocols 
			  Institutional strengthening of the Ombudsman's Office for protecting Internally-Displaced Persons' housing, land and property rights 
			  Supporting implementation of the National Search Plan through capacity building of key State Institutions to address cases of enforced disappearances 
			  Colombian MoD Human Rights 
			   
			 Bolivia Security Sector Reform 
			   
			 Venezuela National Police Reform in Anzoategui State 
			  UN High Commissioner for Refugees Comprehensive Strategy for Conflict Prevention and Management on Venezuelan border 
			   
			 Belize/Guatemala Organisation of American States (OAS) Office Capacity Building 
			  Audit of Donor Programmes in Belize and Guatemala 
			  Assistance to the OAS Office in the Adjacency Zone 
			  Research Piece: The Case for Resolution 
			  Information/Media Campaigns 
			  River Border workshop 
			  Sarstoon River support 
			  Technical assistance for referendum 
			  Legal 'Basket Fund' 
			  Belize - Prisoner Handling Training 
			   
			 Caribbean Guyana Security Sector Reform 
			  Caribbean Prison Reform 
			  Caribbean Law Enforcement Adviser 
			  Joint Capacity Building in the JDF and JCF in Jamaica 
			  Caribbean Strategic Conflict and Security Assessment 
			  Regional Aviation Security Training 
		
	
	It is too early to provide a full assessment of the impact of Conflict Prevention Pool funding reductions in Latin America. Some of the above projects have been transferred to other funding streams, including strategic programme funds and bilateral programme budgets. We are also discussing with external stakeholders the possibility of joint funding for some of these schemes. The Department for International Development (DFID) also contributes significantly to multilateral work in the region.. DFID's multilateral financial support is increasing by 15 per cent. over the next three years from £84 million to £97 million in 2010-11. DFID's new "Working in Partnership in Latin America" will also see the UK support the work of 12 international civil society partners increase to £13 million per year.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many officials in his Department are suspended; how many are suspended on full pay; for how long each has been suspended; and what the reasons are for each such suspension.

Michael Wills: Suspension forms part of the MoJ's discipline policy. Staff may be suspended during a disciplinary process if initial fact finding shows that the employee's actions might amount to gross misconduct; may impact on the health and safety of the employee or other employees might be at risk; it is suspected that potential witnesses might be influenced by the employee; the working relationship with the employee has broken down; or it is suspected that there is a risk to MoJ's property. Under the Civil Service Management Code individuals under criminal investigation or disciplinary procedures may be suspended from duty to protect the public interest.
	Suspension is not a disciplinary sanction nor is it considered an indication of guilt and, in most cases, employees will not be suspended during the disciplinary process. A suspended employee will normally continue to receive full pay and is expected to remain available during their normal working hours and to fully co-operate with a disciplinary investigation. In some circumstances, for example when an employee is remanded in custody, an employee may be suspended on no pay.
	MoJ policies in this area are made available to all employees via our intranet.
	The records for MoJ, excluding the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). show that, as at 21 April 2009, 17 employees were suspended. All of them were suspended on full pay in line with the MoJ policy and all of these were suspended for reasons that initial investigations indicated might fall into one or more of the categories set out above.
	The length of time suspended from duty of the 17 employees referred to above varies from one to five months.
	NOMS does not hold the detailed information centrally in a format that would enable us to answer this question without incurring disproportionate cost.

Legal Aid: Negligence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, column 453W, on legal aid: negligence, when he expects the information requested to be available.

Shahid Malik: I wrote to the hon. Member on 20 April with the information sought. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

Offenders: Databases

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) records and  (b) data fields there are in (i) the National Offender Management Information System (C-Nomis), (ii) the Offender Risk Assessment System (OASys), (iii) the Offender Management National Infrastructure (Omni) and (iv) the Libra Case Management System.

David Hanson: There are currently 4,915 records in the C-NOMIS (now Prison-NOMIS) system using 16,639 data fields.
	Prison-NOMIS (formerly C-NOMIS) will replace the Prison Service case management system, 139 instances of Local Inmate Database System (LIDS), with an enhanced centralised system that also incorporates a fully integrated Management Information System (MIS) and Operational Reporting solution. It will therefore improve the information available to decision makers, and will increase the speed of access to information for those monitoring performance across a range of activity. The improved quality of information is expected to lead to better operational effectiveness and offender management, e.g. better sentence planning; better sentence delivery and better targeting of interventions.
	Prison OASys currently contains 178,165 and Probation e-OASys 2,738,379 offender assessments using 750 data fields. The Offender Assessment System (OASys) is critical to the offender management process in that it enables the recording of static and dynamic risk factors as well as the risk of serious harm that an offender may pose to others. The next release of OASys, due in July 2009, will provide additional functionality for practitioners enabling a more efficient approach to offender assessment. The new OASys release will facilitate a shorter offender assessment depending upon the risks the offender poses. This will enable efficiencies specifically when working with lower risk offenders. The two current OASys applications in prison and probation will be replaced during 2011 by a single application developed within the OASys R project which is a project within the NOMIS programme.
	There are 478,596 active case records held on the Libra system. There are 568,043 fields. This is the number of fields that are defined in the database. Included in these figures are fields that are system generated and therefore do not require individual data input.
	Libra replaced the ageing magistrates courts computer systems with a single, national infrastructure and case management application. This has enabled HMCS to implement standard national business processes, improving efficiency across England and Wales. The Libra system improves joined up justice by providing electronic links between the courts and criminal justice partners such as the police, CPS, OCJR, Prisons and Probation and the DVLA.
	The OASys assessments and C-NOMIS can be shared between prison and probation.
	Libra holds information in a more structured and standardised format than the legacy systems within the magistrates courts. Holding the information in a structured way enables it to be exchanged effectively between the systems of different criminal justice organisations—reducing the need for the information to be re-keyed and improving overall efficiency for both courts and criminal justice partners. This means that there are more data fields than previously, as many of these fields have defined purpose for the sharing of information. While more data fields are required, Libra re-uses these much more effectively than legacy systems and so increases efficiency both within HMCS and across the criminal justice system.
	The OMNI Infrastructure is a hardware and software mechanism for delivering IT services to the national Probation Service. It is not, in itself, a case management system and thus has no records or data fields.

Banks: Iran

William Hague: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, column 101W, on banks: Iran, if he will place in the Library a copy of the advisory notice issued to all businesses on transactions with Iran.

Ian Pearson: The advisory notice issued on 11 March 2009 is available on the HM Treasury website at:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_26_09.htm
	I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library.

Capital Gains Tax

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2008,  Official Report, column 304W, on capital gains tax, if he will estimate the revenue implications of taxing capital gains at the same marginal rates as income tax, with indexation from April 2009 for the fiscal years  (a) 2009-10,  (b) 2010-11 and  (c) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 20 April 2009
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 313W.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1184W, on inheritance tax: housing, what the differences are between a locality and a locality group in relation to the use made of them by the Valuation Office Agency.

Stephen Timms: Localities are geographic areas of dwellings, which are subject to the same or similar market forces. Locality groups comprise a set of one or more localities, which are subject to similar market forces.
	The Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax Banding Support Tool makes use of locality and locality group. The tool uses modelling techniques to identify properties that are most closely comparable to a given subject (in terms of location and property attributes) and provides the bandings of those properties. It initially searches for comparables within a subject property's immediate locality and, only where insufficient suitable comparables are available within the locality, will the remainder of the locality group be searched.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1184W, on inheritance tax: housing, if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance the Valuation Office Agency uses on making use of localities and locality groups within the council tax banding support tool.

Stephen Timms: The guidance produced for the council tax banding support tool comprises technical instruction on the use of a VOA internal IT application. It is not appropriate to publish information which might assist unauthorised access to VOA systems or databases.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2009,  Official Report, column 940W, on valuation: housing, how many locality groups in England were used by the Valuation Office Agency in  (a) 2008,  (b) 2007 and  (c) 2006.

Stephen Timms: The number of locality groups identified by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is liable to change during the course of a year to reflect the housing market. The following are approximate numbers of locality groups in England:
	
		
			   Number 
			  (a) June 2008 4,088 
			  (b) January 2007 4,349 
			  (c) June 2006 4,350

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 6 November 2008,  Official Report, column 682W, on housing: valuation, if he will rank each individual locality reference in each valuation area in the South West according to value significance.

Stephen Timms: A list of locality reference numbers, ranked in order of value significance by Valuation Area within the Valuation Office Agency's South West Group, has been placed in the Library. The list is based on data extracted on 22 February 2009.
	The release of information that identifies the extent and location of each locality, relative to the list of numbers that ranks each individual locality, would prejudice commercial interests.

Debt Collection

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1181W, on debt collection: powers of entry, if he will place in the Library a copy of the HM Revenue and Customs guidance on exercising distraint in relation to powers of entry and seizing assets.

Stephen Timms: HMRC's internal guidance to staff in respect of distraint is set out in the Debt Management and Banking Manual which is available on HMRC's website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/dmbmanual/DMBM655010.htm
	HMRC also publish information about distraint aimed specifically at HMRC customers—including a fact sheet: "Distraint—what it means for you".
	This customer facing guidance is available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/payinghmrc/problems/dontpav/debts.htm

G20: Greater London

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on  (a) coaches for delegates and the media and  (b) other transportation for the London summit on 2 April 2009.

Angela Eagle: Spending on transportation costs associated with the London summit on 2 April 2009 was the responsibility of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter to him of 18 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regards to Mr. Christian Callaghan-Newsham.

Ian Pearson: A reply has been sent to the right hon. Member by the Financial Services Secretary.

Ocean View Properties

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1186W, on Ocean View Properties, what the timetable is for the Financial Services Authority inquiry into the firms connected with Ocean View Properties.

Ian Pearson: It is inappropriate to discuss the details of any investigation by the Financial Services Authority, including the possible duration of that investigation.

Revenue and Customs: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for a reply to be sent by the director at the tax credit office in Preston to the hon. Member for Walsall North's letters of 12 January and 26 March 2009 on a constituent, ref CSSG22 TM6 2009/01 001605 TIMP DJ.

Stephen Timms: HM Revenue and Customs have advised me that they called my hon. Friend's constituent on 24 April 2009 and will send my hon. Friend a full reply shortly. The Department apologises for the delay in doing so.

Taxation: Pensions

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Budget Statement of 22 April 2009, what percentage of expenditure incurred in the provision of tax relief would be attributed to expenditure incurred in relation to the 1.5 per cent. of pension savers if his proposals are implemented; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The effect of the measure announced at Budget 2009 is to reduce the proportion of tax relief going to those with incomes above £150,000 from just over 25 per cent. to around 15 per cent. Both estimates relate to tax relief in 2011-12.

Valuation Office

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1191W, on the Valuation Office, on what dates the project board overseeing the  (a) electronic capture of hard copy records and  (b) installation of a geographical information system met in the last 12 months.

Stephen Timms: The project boards overseeing  (a) the electronic capture of hard copy records and  (b) the installation of a geographical information system have held regular meetings over the last 12 months.
	The dates of the respective project board meetings were:
	 (a) electronic capture of hard copy records:
	16 April 2.008;
	13 May 2008;
	21 July 2008;
	29 September 2008;
	30 October 2008;
	27 November 2008;
	28 January 2009;
	19 February 2009;
	26 March 2009.
	 (b) installation of a geographical information system:
	3 April 2008;
	28 April 2008;
	13 May 2008;
	8 September 2008;
	14 October 2008;
	4 November 2008;
	10 December 2008;
	14 January 2009;
	25 February 2009;
	22 April 2009.

Valuation Office: Northern Ireland Land and Property Services

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 6 May 2008,  Official Report, column 829W, on Valuation Office: Northern Ireland Land and Property Services, what meetings have taken place since May 2008.

Stephen Timms: Two meetings of the Steering Committee on Harmonisation (Practice and Procedure) England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have taken place since the start of May 2008. These were the 47th meeting held in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, on 7-8 May 2008 and the 48th meeting in Glasgow on 12-13 November 2008.

Smuggling: Tobacco

David Taylor: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1626W, on the Revenue and Customs Prosecution Office, how many full-time equivalent staff in the Attorney-General's office were working on the prevention of tobacco smuggling in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09; and what expenditure was incurred in employing such staff in each year.

Vera Baird: The Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) is an independent Government Department. It prosecutes cases in England and Wales investigated by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA). Its independence as a prosecutor is a key constitutional safeguard.
	Its prosecutors work closely with investigators from HMRC and SOCA who are responsible for gathering evidence. Before any prosecution is initiated, its prosecutors will advise them on:
	the potential prosecution consequences of the investigation routes that might or have been followed;
	evidential requirements;
	charges;
	appropriate disclosure of material to the defence.
	As soon as criminal proceedings begin, RCPO takes over full responsibility for the conduct of the case. RCPO therefore employs no staff on the prevention of tobacco smuggling which is an inherent part of HMRC's functions.

Smuggling: Tobacco

David Taylor: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1626W, on Revenue and Customs Prosecution Office, what the estimated cost of legal action taken against those accused of tobacco smuggling offences was in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09.

Vera Baird: The information is as follows:
	 (a) In 2007-08 RCPO spent an estimated £2,838,268 to prosecute tobacco smuggling offences.
	 (b) In 2008-09 RCPO spent an estimated £2,152,722 to prosecute tobacco smuggling offences.

Crisis Loans

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what consultations he has undertaken on his proposal to limit claimants to three Social Fund crisis loans a year;
	(2)  what criteria he plans to use to determine whether an application for a Social Fund crisis loan will be granted in circumstances where the applicant has received three such loans in the preceding 12 months;
	(3)  what information his Department gathers to monitor the level of fraudulent applications for Social Fund crisis loans.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 2 April 2009
	Proposed changes to the existing Crisis Loans scheme have been shared with DWP Customer Representative Groups and the Independent Review Service. Jobcentre Plus is committed to consulting on any changes before they are implemented.
	Under planned changes due to be piloted this year, an award for a Crisis Loan will generally not be granted where an applicant has received three such loans in a 12 month period. There will be circumstances in which a further award may be made when need has arisen as a consequence of a disaster.
	The Department does not gather specific information about the level of fraudulent applications for Social Fund Crisis Loans. However, any referrals of suspected fraudulent activity would be dealt with by the Fraud Investigation Service in the same way as any other referrals.

Employment Schemes

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what meetings  (a) he and  (b) other Ministers in his Department have had with trade union and business leaders to discuss the recruitment subsidies announced on 12 January 2009.

Tony McNulty: The Secretary of State and ministerial colleagues have ongoing discussions with business and trade union leaders about the full range of employment policies, and have discussed the recruitment subsidy on numerous occasions, including the first meeting of the National Employment Partnership on 11 February.

Incapacity Benefit

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of those in receipt of incapacity benefit who will continue to qualify for the benefit as a result of physical or mental disability following the implementation of the proposed changes to eligibility criteria.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 22 April 2009
	The White Paper, "Raising expectations and increasing support" stated that existing incapacity benefits recipients will be migrated to employment and support allowance from 2010. This will involve having the work capability assessment rather than the personal capability assessment which is a more accurate and up to date assessment of limited capability for work than its predecessor. It therefore provides a more appropriate means to ensure that individuals are receiving the correct benefit.
	We are monitoring the early stages of implementation of employment and support allowance and this will inform our estimates of the likely impact of the work capability assessment on existing incapacity benefits recipients.
	The White Paper also announced changes to the contribution conditions to modernise the link between work and access to contributory working age benefits including employment and support allowance. These changes apply to new claimants only.

Jobcentre Plus: Internet

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood of 26 February 2009,  Official Report, column 934W, on departmental internet, whether he plans to establish a virtual jobcentre using second life virtual world technology.

Jonathan R Shaw: The DWP Second Life initiative is in its infancy and at this stage the establishment of a virtual jobcentre is not planned.

New Deal Schemes

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of the latest version of the  (a) provision specification and  (b) supporting information for phase one of the flexible New Deal (fND) including (i) estimates of the number of starts to the fND, (ii) budgets and (iii) payment models.

Tony McNulty: The provision specification and supporting information for Phase One of Flexible New Deal were published in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) in July 2008. A copy of the ITT and the letters issued in February inviting supplementary information from shortlisted suppliers has been placed in the Library.
	The Department has not issued revised estimates of the number of starts to Flexible New Deal. The Department has however asked bidders for Flexible New Deal contracts to draw up plans that are capable of supporting a wide range of customer referral volumes reflecting a range of possible labour market scenarios over the next three to five years.
	The budget for Flexible New Deal is being finalised following the budget. However the Government are committed to ensuring that all who are out of work receive support that will offer them the best chance to get back into sustained employment, in line with the White Paper 'Raising expectations and increasing support: reforming welfare for the future'(Cm7506) published in December 2008.
	The Department will retain a performance and payment regime based largely on outcomes, providing suppliers with the opportunity to develop innovative, individually tailored solutions. In the initial phase of the contract (first 18 months), we will consider alternative models based on a higher service fee element. After the initial phase of the contract we anticipate that the funding model will be based on 80 per cent. (outcome) and 20 per cent. (fee based) as originally announced. This is described in the material to be placed the Library.

Social Security Benefits: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households were in receipt of  (a) income support,  (b) incapacity benefit and  (c) employment support allowance in each London (i) borough and (ii) constituency at (A) 31 March 2005 and (B) 31 December 2008.

Tony McNulty: Information about households in receipt of income support or incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance is not available at borough or constituency level. DWP will be publishing National Statistics on employment and support allowance in summer 2009. The available information has been placed in the Library.

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to his oral evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights on 18 November 2008, HC397, Q65-71, what advice he received on the concurrence of the devolved administrations with the Government's proposed reservation to the UK's ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the proposed reservation on education.

Jonathan R Shaw: The devolved Administrations have been fully consulted throughout our work towards ratification of the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. They advised that they were content. This process has included consultation with the Northern Ireland Executive on the proposed reservation in respect of education.

Business: Accountancy

Ian Taylor: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many fines Companies House has imposed on small and medium-sized companies for late submission of accounts in the last  (a) six and  (b) 12 months.

Ian Pearson: As provided for in section 242A of the Companies Act 1985 and section 453 of the Companies Act 2006, all accounts which are delivered late to the Registrar of Companies are subject to a late filing penalty. Over the past six months, 137,029 sets of accounts were delivered late. Over the past 12 months, 255,012 sets of accounts were delivered late. This reflects the fact that, of the 1,903,595 sets of accounts delivered to the Registrar over the last 12 months, 87 per cent. were delivered
	on time.
	The Companies Act does not require a company to identify itself as "large", "medium" or "small". It is not therefore possible to say how many of these penalties were incurred by small or medium-sized companies.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to reply to the letter of 12 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr J Parris.

Patrick McFadden: I will reply to my right hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Post Offices: Closures

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1279W, on post offices: closures, when he expects the managing director of Post Office Ltd. to write to the hon. Member for Huntingdon.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 24 April 2009
	I have asked Post Office Ltd. to reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Small Businesses: Females

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much funding has been distributed to businesses from his Department's Aspire Fund since 19 November 2008; how many companies have received such funding; and how many awards from the fund have been  (a) below £100,000,  (b) between £100,000 and £299,000,  (c) between £300,000 and £499,000,  (d) between £500,000 and £749,000,  (e) between £750,000 and £999,000,  (f) between £1 million and £1.49 million,  (g) between £1.5 million and £2 million and (h) over £2 million.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 27 February 2009
	As at 25 March 2009, the Aspire Fund has received 52 enquiries from potential applicants and a number of these have been advised of the need to find a lead investor for Aspire to invest alongside and others have been referred to Business Link and their supporting providers for additional investment readiness support.
	21 of the businesses enquiring about Aspire have provided business plans and have private investment identified. Of these, 10 have been rejected as not meeting Aspire Fund criteria and two have withdrawn having raised funding elsewhere. Nine proposals are under active consideration. The fund would expect to issue a funding offer shortly.

USA: Exports

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the answer of 8 July 2002,  Official Report, columns 652-4W, on export licences, whether licences are still being granted for the export to the US of components for F-16 aircraft and Apache helicopters for possible onward export to Israel; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 2 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1434W.

Education: Safety

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps his Department takes to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements in respect of learners; and what such steps he plans to take in relation to the National Apprenticeship Service.

Si�n Simon: Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, responsibility for the health and safety of learners rests with the employer, including providers, on whose premises the learning is taking place. To support this, the Learning and Skills Council is required under the Learning and Skills Act 2000 to ensure that the provision which it secures is of a quality adequate to meet the reasonable needs of learners. To fulfil this duty, the LSC seeks, among other things, to ensure that the training environment of employers is both healthy and safe, including where necessary through assessments of the suitability of training facilities, and by making it a condition of funding for providers to satisfy themselves as to the health and safety suitability of an employers' premises.
	The Department and the Department for Children, Schools and Families take the health and safety of all learners, including apprentices, very seriously. The Learning and Skills Council, and the Skills Funding Agency which will replace it, will continue to work with providers and employers to ensure that the health and safety of learners, including apprentices over the age of 19, is of paramount importance.
	Individual local authorities are already responsible for safeguarding learners in their areas, and under the new arrangements, this will include apprentices up to the age of 19. The National Apprenticeship Service is currently part of the Learning and Skills Council, and under the new arrangements, it will be housed within the Skills Funding Agency which will have adequate resource and appropriate expertise to deliver this important function. It is therefore not necessary to put separate arrangements in place for the NAS.

English Language: GCSE

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many adult learners have been entered for GCSE English  (a) language and  (b) literature examinations in each year since 1990.

Si�n Simon: Table 1 shows the number of achievements by adult learners in LSC-funded further education provision of GCSE English language and GCSE English literature in each academic year since 2003/04, the earliest year for which we have comparable information.
	
		
			  Table 1: Achievements by adults (aged 19+) in LSC-funded further education provision of GCSE English language and GCSE English literature, 2003/04 to 2007/08 
			  Academic year  GCSE English language  GCSE English literature  Of which: achieving both 
			 2003/04 8,770 220 70 
			 2004/05 8,760 160 70 
			 2005/06 8,440 110 40 
			 2006/07 8,270 140 80 
			 2007/08 7,520 80 60 
			  Notes: 1. Age is based on age as at 31 August (academic age). 2. This information does not include learners studying GCSE English language or GCSE English literature in schools or higher education institutions. 3. Learners achieving both GCSE English language and GCSE English literature are included in both of the columns for these GCSEs and also the column for learners achieving both. 4. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: FE ILR. 
		
	
	Awarding Body data on GCSE examination entries is analysed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families as part of the School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables publication. However, this work only covers qualifications entered for by 16 to 18-year-olds. Therefore, we do not have information readily available on adults being entered for GCSE English language and GCSE English literature examinations.
	A GCSE may not necessarily be the most appropriate learning outcome for many learners and colleges have been encouraged to advise learners to study the most relevant qualification to them. Many learners who may previously have undertaken a GCSE in English now have their language needs picked up through embedded learning in other courses.
	Over the past few years, the Government have prioritised investment in adult skills towards those courses that best provide individuals with the skills to enter into sustained employment and progress into further learning. This strategy has paid dividends with record levels of adults participating in Skills for Life (numeracy and literacy), full level 2 and full level 3 qualifications.

Petrol Alternatives

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on the  (a) research and  (b) development of alternative fuel technologies for motor vehicles in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: The Research Councils and the Technology Strategy Board, funded through the Department's Science and Research, and Innovation Budgets respectively, support a portfolio of research into alternative fuel technologies for motor vehicles.
	The Research Councils' expenditure on relevant research is as follows:
	
		
			  000 
			   Biofuel  Hydrogen and other vectors 
			 2003-04 135 1,494 
			 2004-05 92 1,477 
			 2005-06 184 1,499 
			 2006-07 326 1,208 
			 2007-08 300 3,290 
		
	
	In addition, Research Councils funded the following relevant related research:
	
		
			  000 
			   Fuel cells  Biomass 
			 2003-04 1,193 1,043 
			 2004-05 917 1,134 
			 2005-06 1,207 1,671 
			 2006-07 2,300 2,135 
			 2007-08 2,255 3,813 
		
	
	The Technology Strategy Board was established in July 2007 and at that stage inherited DTI's support for collaborative R and D projects.
	Since April 2004, when the Collaborative R and D programme was established in DTI, 18 projects have been supported where the main focus is alternative fuel technologies for motor vehicles (specifically on biofuels, hybrid drive systems and fuel cells). The total cost of the projects (which did not start until early 2005) was 41 million with the public sector providing 19 million grant funding. Of this, the grant funding provided to date is approximately as follows:
	
		
			   TSB alternative fuel technology projects  (000) 
			 2004-05 500 
			 2005-06 1,500 
			 2006-07 2,500 
			 2007-08 4,000 
			 2008-09 5,500 
		
	
	The Technology Strategy Board also launched in September 2007 a 100 million Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform bringing together funding from the Technology Strategy Board, Department of Transport, Engineering and Physical Science Research Council, and the Regional Development Agencies Advantage West Midlands and One North East. The Innovation Platform has recently launched competitions to support the development of low carbon vehicles, including a 10 million demonstration programme to put at least 100 ultra low carbon vehicles on the roads in the UK by the end of 2009.

Train to Gain Programme

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether a portion of the additional funding for Train to Gain announced in the Pre-Budget Report will be used to fund university student grants.

Si�n Simon: holding answer 15 January 2009
	Train to Gain is the Government's flagship service to employers to improve the skills for their employees and the productivity of their business.
	Train to Gain is a growing programme and we plan to invest 925 million through Train to Gain in 2009-10. By 2010-11, we will be investing over 1 billion through Train to Gain.
	The pre-Budget report announced that small and medium sized enterprises will be the focus of the 350 million planned growth in Train to Gain funding over the next two years to help them get the training they need. The 2009-10 grant letter to the Learning and Skills Council sets out the budget for Train to Gain. There is no expectation that any Train to Gain funding will be diverted to fund university student grants.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 667-68W, on abortion, on what date and at what time the abortion statistics for 2008 will be published; when they will be uploaded to his Department's website; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Statistical Bulletin Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2008 will be published on 21 May 2009 at 9.30 am on the Department's website
	www.dh.gov.uk.
	A copy will be placed in the Library.

Chlamydia: Screening

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons reports are not made to the National Chlamydia Screening Programme of chlamydia tests carried out in genito-urinary medicine clinics.

Dawn Primarolo: Chlamydia screening data from genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics is part of a clinic aggregate return (KC60) and is not currently available by primary care trust (PCT) of the patients or age of patient.
	The Department and the Health Protection Agency are implementing a new sexually transmitted infection data set for GUM, which will replace the KC60. This will provide data on numbers tested for chlamydia (under 25) in GUM services by PCT of residence. We expect full national roll-out later this year.
	The National Chlamydia Screening Programme was set up to target asymptomatic individuals under the age of 25, who were not usually presenting for chlamydia testing. Information on the number of people screened is collected by PCT of residence and data is assigned to each individual PCT.
	For the first year of the vital signs indicator (2007-08), relating to chlamydia, the emphasis was on counting and increasing all community testing. Once testing is sufficiently embedded within the community, we will then use all community data along with GUM tests to monitor progress towards reducing chlamydia prevalence in each PCT.

Contraceptives: Finance

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the funding for contraception announced by his Department on 26 February 2009 has been allocated to each strategic health authority.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table shows the sums which will be allocated to strategic health authorities (SHAs) in 2009-10 to assist with improving access to contraceptive services, particularly for young people. The announcement on 26 February 2009 stated that 1 million would be allocated in respect of further education (FE) colleges.
	The Department found, subsequent to the announcement, that SHAs had received a large number of bids and were keen to respond to these and to receive more than 1 million to expand contraceptive services in FE colleges. We therefore increased this allocation to 1.6 million.
	
		
			   
			  SHA  Contraception  FE colleges  Total 
			 North East 780,000 150,000 930,000 
			 North West 1,210,000 200,000 1,410,000 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 1,010,000 150,000 1,160,000 
			 East Midlands 900,000 150,000 1,050,000 
			 West Midlands 1,000,000 150,000 1,150,000 
			 East of England 1,000,000 150,000 1,150,000 
			 London 1,300,000 200,000 1,500,000 
			 South East Coast 900,000 150,000 1,050,000 
			 South Central 900,000 150,000 1,050,000 
			 South West 1,000,000 150,000 1,150,000 
			 Total 10,000,000 1,600,000 11,600,000 
		
	
	In addition to the funding announced on 26 February, each SHA will also receive an additional 250,000 to pump-prime the provision of information technology in community contraception services.
	SHAs have been advised of these allocations.

Health Services: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes there have been to the provision of medical services for  (a) pensioners,  (b) young people,  (c) families and  (d) expectant mothers in Coventry in the last 12 months.

Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally. It was for primary care trusts to commission services in line with local needs and the priorities set out in The Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2008-09. A copy of this document has already been placed in the Library.

Health Services: Standards

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what mechanisms local involvement networks are expected to use to co-ordinate their work with those responsible for discharging local authority health overview and scrutiny functions.

Ann Keen: The formal mechanism for local involvement networks (LINks) to interact with local authority overview and scrutiny committees (OSCs) is through the referral of relevant matters to the OSC. The OSC must acknowledge referrals from LINks that concern either health or social care matters within 20 working days and keep LINks informed about actions they might take, if any, with respect to those referrals.
	It is good practice for LINks and OSCs to build and maintain good working relationships and less formal ways of working together over and above the use of formal referrals. Guidance on how LINks and OSCs might work together has been produced and is available on the NHS Centre for Involvement website at:
	www.nhscentreforinvolvement.nhs.uk/index.cfm?Content=196.

NHS: Death Rate

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, column 900W, on NHS: death rate, how many alerts the Healthcare Commission has received since July 2008; which NHS organisation was the subject of each alert; and what the reason was for the alert in each case.

Ben Bradshaw: The Care Quality Commission (CQC), which took over from the Healthcare Commission on 1 April 2009, has informed us that since July 2008, the Healthcare Commission considered 94 alerts. The reasons for the alerts were because data received by the Healthcare Commission suggested that the rates of mortality in relation to a number of specific clinical areas were statistically higher than otherwise would have been expected. Statistical alerts relating to mortality rates do not necessarily equate to problems with clinical care. The alerts could be caused as a result of poor data quality, chance events, differences in the complexity of conditions treated or there could be evidence of poor quality care.
	Details of the alerts by patient group are contained in the following table:
	
		
			  Alerts by patient group (cases since July 2008) 
			  Patient group  Number 
			 Acute and unspecified renal failure 3 
			 Acute bronchitis 3 
			 Acute cerebrovascular disease 8 
			 Acute myocardial infarction 2 
			 CABG (complex, combined and repeat) 2 
			 Cardiac arrest and ventricular fibrillation 1 
			 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis 2 
			 Chronic renal failure 1 
			 Chronic ulcer of skin 1 
			 Complication of device, implant or graft 1 
			 Coronary atherosclerosis and other heart disease 9 
			 Deficiency and other anaemia 1 
			 Elective cases (various groups) 1 
			 Excision of lung 2 
			 Fluid and electrolyte disorders 2 
			 Fracture of neck of femur (hip) 1 
			 Head injury with brain injury 1 
			 Heart valve disorders 4 
			 Hip replacement 1 
			 Intestinal obstruction without hernia 3 
			 Intracranial injury 1 
			 Large intestinal disorders, aged below 70 years and without complications and comorbidities 1 
			 Large intestinal disorders, aged over 69 years or with complications or comorbidities 5 
			 Lobar, atypical or viral pneumonia without complications and comorbidities 1 
			 Minor skin procedures 1 
			 Multiple injury, aged below 70 years 1 
			 Non-infectious gastroenteritis 4 
			 Non-transient stroke or cerebrovascular accident, aged over 69 years or with complications or comorbidities 1 
			 Operations on jejunum 1 
			 Other circulatory disease 1 
			 Other liver diseases 1 
			 Other non-viral infections 1 
			 Other operations on heart 2 
			 Other psychoses 1 
			 Perinatal mortality 1 
			 Peripheral and visceral atherosclerosis 1 
			 Peritonitis and intestinal abscess 2 
			 Pleurisy, pneumothorax, pulmonary collapse 2 
			 Pulmonary heart disease 3 
			 Septicaemia (except in labour) 8 
			 Spondylosis, intervertebral disc disorders, other back problems 1 
			 Therapeutic endoscopic procedures on upper GI tract 1 
			 Urinary tract infections 4 
			 All patient groups 94 
		
	
	One of the CQC's first pieces of work is to review this programme and it will be publishing the action taken on these alerts as soon as this review has been completed.
	The CQC will undertake a rigorous review of each alert it receives, drawing together all relevant information, including, for example, patient reported experiences. Consideration will be given to possible data anomalies and variations which could be producing the alert, and advice will be taken from clinicians and other experts. Where necessary, information about the alert will be sought from the organisations concerned.

Tranquillisers

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 391-2W, on tranquillisers, what assessment he has made of the efficacy of his policy on the prescription of tranquillisers in limiting the number of medicines prescribed.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has made no such assessment.

Civil Servants: Pay

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer to Lord Ouseley of 4 March 2009,  Official Report, House of Lords, column WA157, on Civil Service: salaries, which public bodies pay a salary of more than  (a) 100,000 and  (b) 200,000 to one or more individual civil servants.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated April 2009:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question, pursuant to the answer to Lord Ouseley of 4 March 2009, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA157, on Civil Service: salaries, which public bodies pay a salary more than (a) 100,000 and (b) 200,000 to one or more individual civil servants. (270211).
	The Office for National Statistics collects the annual salaries of civil servants from public bodies employing civil servants, as part of the Annual Civil Service Employment Survey (ACSES).
	The requested data are attached at Annex A.
	 Annex A
	 Civil Service departments and agencies paying one or more individual civil servants more than 100,000
	Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service
	Animal Health
	Army Base Repair Organisation
	Attorney-General's Office
	Border and Immigration Agency
	Cabinet Office
	Central Office of Information
	Central Science Laboratory
	Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
	Charity Commission
	Child Support Agency
	Criminal Records Bureau
	Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
	Crown Prosecution Service
	Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate
	Debt Management Office
	Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
	Department for Children, Schools and Families
	Department for Communities and Local Government
	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
	Department for International Development
	Department for Transport
	Department for Work and Pensions
	Department of Health
	Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
	Driving Standards Agency
	Export Credit Guarantee Department
	Fire Service College
	Food Standards Agency
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	Government Actuary's Department
	Health and Safety Executive
	Highways Agency
	HM Courts Service
	HM Land Registry
	HM Revenue and Customs
	HM Treasury
	Home Office
	Identity and Passport Service
	Jobcentre Plus
	Meat Hygiene Service
	Medical and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
	Meteorological Office
	Ministry of Defence
	Ministry of Justice
	National Archives
	National Healthcare Purchasing and Supplies Agency
	National Savings and Investments
	National School for Government
	Northern Ireland Office
	Office for National Statistics
	Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism
	Office for Standards in Education
	Office of Fair Trading
	Office of Gas and Electricity Market
	Office of Government Commerce
	Office of Rail Regulation
	Office of Water Services
	OGC Buying.solutions
	Ordnance Survey
	Parliamentary Counsel Office
	Pension Service
	Planning Inspectorate
	Postal Services Commission
	Public Guardianship Office
	Public Sector Prison Service
	Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office
	Royal Mint
	Rural Payments Agency
	Scotland Office
	Scottish Government
	Security and Intelligence Services
	Serious Fraud Office
	Transport Scotland
	Treasury Solicitor
	Tribunals Service
	UK Intellectual Property Office
	Vehicle and Operator Services Agency
	Welsh Assembly Government
	 Civil Service departments and agencies paying one or more individual civil servants more than 200,000
	Border and Immigration Agency
	Cabinet Office
	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
	Department for Work and Pensions
	Department of Health
	Export Credit Guarantee Department
	Ministry of Defence
	Office of Gas and Electricity Market
	Parliamentary Counsel Office
	Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office

Civil Servants: Pay

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer to Lord Ouseley of 4 March 2009,  Official Report,  House of Lords, column WA157, on Civil Service: salaries, how many individuals in  (a) executive agencies and  (b) non-departmental public bodies are paid more than (i) 100,000 and (ii) 200,000 per annum.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell:
	As National Statistician 1 have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question, pursuant to the Answer to Lord Ouseley of 4 March 2009, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA157, on Civil Service: salaries, how many individuals in (a) executive agencies and (b) non-departmental public bodies are paid more than (i) 100,000 and (ii) 200,000 per annum. (270212).
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) collects the annual salaries of civil servants as part of the Annual Civil Service Employment Survey (ACSES).
	The requested data are attached at Annex A.
	
		
			  Number of individual civil servants paid more than (a) 100,000 and (b) 200,000 by non-departmental public bodies (NDPB) and executive agencies, Permanent employees, 31 March 2008 
			  Headcount 
			   Greater than 100,000  Greater than 200,000 
			 Non-departmental public bodies 10 0 
			 Executive agencies 110 (1) 
			 (1)( )Less than five.   Note:  Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.   Source:  (Unpublished) Annual Civil Service Employment Survey.

Local Government: Referendums

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 30 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1210W, on local government: referendums, whether guidance has been issued by the Cabinet Office to public authorities on the use of public funds by third party groups to campaign to influence a referendum or election.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	While there are statutory restrictions on election expenditure by or on behalf of a candidate at a local election, and on expenditure incurred by or on behalf of an individual or body in connection with the conduct or management of any campaign conducted with a view to promoting or procuring a particular outcome in a referendum held under part 2 of the Local Government Act 2000, we have not issued guidance to local authorities on the provision of public funding to groups which campaign in local referendums or elections.
	The Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity, which all local authorities must have regard to, makes clear that the principles set out in the publicity code, including those pertaining to elections, referendums and petitions should be taken into account by local authorities in decisions on assistance to others to issue publicity.

Pay

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the average percentage yearly change in earnings in  (a) the Civil Service,  (b) local government,  (c) the public sector and  (d) the private sector was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated April 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the average percentage yearly change in earnings in (a) the Civil Service, (b) local government, (c) the public sector and (d) the private sector was in the most recent period for which figures are available. (269900)
	The only source that has information on all of the sectors you have requested is the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) and this has been used to allow for a consistent comparison. Earnings estimates are provided for all employees on adult rates of pay whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. The ASHE, carried out in April each year, is based on a sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes.
	I attach a table showing the annual percentage change in median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees in (a) the Civil Service, (b) local government, (c) the public sector and (d) the private sector, for 2008, the most recent year for which figures are available.
	
		
			  Annual percentage cha nge in median gross weekly pay full-time employee jobs( 1)  in the United Kingdom for 2008 
			   Annual percentage change 
			 Civil Service 4.4 
			 Local Government 3.6 
			 Public sector 4.3 
			 Private sector 4.6 
			 (1) Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence.  Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.

Public Sector: Job Creation

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of jobs created have been in the public sector in each year since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated April 2009:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what proportion of jobs have been in the public sector in each year since 1997. (269899).
	Statistics on jobs in the public sector are not available. However we can provide the change in the number of employees (the closest available measure) for both the public and private sectors alongside total employment since 1997. These figures will therefore exclude any vacancies. The data are attached at Annex A.
	Estimates of employment for the whole economy are sourced from the Labour Force Survey (published monthly), and for the public sector from the quarterly Public Sector Employment surveys. Private sector employment estimates arc derived as the difference between Labour Force Survey and public sector employment totals. It is important to acknowledge, as with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Annex A: Public and private sector employment 
			  United Kingdom, thousand, seasonally adjusted 
			   Public sector( 1,)( )( 2,)( )( 3,)( )( 4)  Private sector( 4,)( )( 5)  Total employment( 6,)( )( 7) 
			  All in employment  Thousand  Percentage  Thousand  Percentage  Thousand 
			 1997 5,180 19.5 21,310 80.5 26,490 
			 1998 5,170 19.3 21,610 80.7 26,770 
			 1999 5,190 19.1 21,930 80.9 27,120 
			 2000 5,270 19.1 22,2S0 80.9 27,530 
			 2001 5,360 19.4 22,340 80.6 27,700 
			 2002 5,470 19.6 22,420 80.4 27,890 
			 2003 5,630 20.0 22,570 80.0 28,200 
			 2004 5,750 20.2 22,680 79.8 28,420 
			 2005 5,850 20.3 22,940 79.7 28,780 
			 2006 5,810 20.0 23,220 80.0 29,030 
			 2007 5,770 19.7 23,430 80.3 29,200 
			 2008 5,750 19.5 23,740 80.5 29,490 
			 (1) Estimates derived from public sector organisations. (2) Estimates for Northern Ireland included in the UK total are sourced from the Quarterly Employment Survey and are based on jobs rather than employees. (3) Estimates for December 2007 onwards are based partly on projections. (4) Northern Rock plc was reclassified for statistical purposes from the private to the public sector on 9 October 2007. (5) Estimated as the difference between LFS total employment and the data from public sector organisations. (6) LFS data for September refers to August-October and December refers to November-January. (7) Labour Force Survey employment; All aged 16 and over; seasonally adjusted.  Note: Details of the sampling variability of national Labour Force Survey estimates are included each month in the Labour Market Statistics First Release, available on www.statistics.gov.uk  Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS) Labour Force Survey and returns from public sector organisations

Public Sector: Manpower

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 409W, on public sector: manpower, whether the Civil Service employee headcount in 1997 included  (a) self-employed workers,  (b) contract workers and  (c) agency temporary workers.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated April 2009:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question, pursuant to the Answer of 23 February 2009, Official Report, column 409W, on public sector: manpower, whether the Civil Service employee headcount in 1997 included (a) self-employed workers, (b) contract workers and (c) agency temporary workers. (270149)
	I can confirm that the Civil Service employee headcount in 1997 excluded self-employed workers, contract workers and agency temporary workers.

Public Sector: Manpower

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 409-12W, on public sector: manpower, whether the methodology that excludes casual and annualised hour contracts from the definition of public sector workers was used in the calculation of the Civil Service employee headcount in 1997.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK statistics authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated April 2009:
	As National Statistician 1 have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question, pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009, Official Report, columns 409-12W, on public sector: manpower, if the methodology that excludes casual and annualised hour contracts from the definition of public sector workers was used in the calculation of the civil service employee headcount in 1997.
	I can confirm that the methodology that excludes casual and annualised hour contracts from the definition of public sector workers was used in the calculation of the civil service employee headcount in 1997.

Public Sector: Manpower

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 404-9W, on public sector: manpower, for what reasons a list of the public sector bodies which were classified as central government for the purpose of the Civil Service employee headcount in 1997 is not available.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated April 2009:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question, pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009, Official Report, columns 404-9W, on public sector: manpower, for what reasons a list of the public sector bodies which were classified as central government but not for the purpose of the Civil Service employee headcount in 1997 is not available. (270151).
	In 2005, Office for National Statistics (ONS) in collaboration with other departments and the devolved administrations, implemented major improvements to public sector employment estimates. Although records for earlier periods were passed to ONS, at the time of the aforementioned answer of 23 February 2009, information on public sector bodies which were classified as central government but not for the purpose of the Civil Service employee headcount in 1997 could not be found.
	Further effort to find the information has brought it to light. The requested information is attached at Annex A.
	 Annex APublic Sector Bodies classified as Central Government (for the purpose of employee headcount) but not included within Civil Service
	 1997
	HM Forces
	National Health ServiceScotland
	National Health ServiceWales
	National Health ServiceEngland
	PoliceEngland and Wales
	Central GovernmentNorthern Ireland
	Probation Service England and Wales
	Other Central Government:
	Alcohol Education and Research Council
	Arts Council England
	Bank of England
	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
	British Board of Agreement
	British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA)
	British Film Institute
	British Museum
	Broadcasting Standards Commission (OFCOM)
	Castle Vale Housing Action Trust
	Central Rail Users Consultative Committee
	Churches Conservation Trust
	Coal Authority
	Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
	Commission for Local Administration in England
	Commission for Local Administration in Wales
	Commission for New Towns
	Commission for Racial Equality
	Community Development Foundation (CDF)
	Community Learning Scotland
	Competition Commission
	Construction Industry Training Board
	Consumer Council for Postal Services
	Council for Central Laboratory of Research Councils
	Countryside Agency
	Countryside Council for Wales
	Criminal Cases Review Commission
	Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel
	Deer Commission
	Diplomatic Service
	East Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
	Economic and Social Research Council
	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
	Engineering Construction Industry Training Board
	English Heritage
	English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting
	English Nature
	English Tourism Council
	Environment Agency
	Equal Opportunities Commission
	Food From Britain
	Football Licensing Authority
	Funding Agency for Schools
	Gaming Board for Britain
	Gas and Electricity Consumer Council
	Geffrye Museum Trust Limited
	General Social Care Council
	Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)
	Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
	Highland RFC Association
	Home-Grown Cereals Authority
	Horserace Betting Levy Board
	Horticultural Development Council
	House of Commons (Staff)
	Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
	Imperial War Museum
	Independent Housing Ombudsman
	Independent Television Commission (OFCOM)
	Investors In People UK (IIP UK)
	Joint Nature Conservation Committee
	Learning and Skills Council
	Legal Services Commission
	Liverpool Housing Action Trust
	Local Government Boundary Commission For Scotland
	Macaulay Land Use Research Institute
	Meat and Livestock Commission
	Medical Research Council
	National Army Museum
	National Audit Office
	National Biological Standards Board
	National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting In Scotland
	National Consumer Council
	National Council for Education Technology
	National Forest Company
	National Galleries of Scotland
	National Gallery
	National Heritage Memorial Fund
	National Library of Scotland
	National Library of Wales
	National Maritime Museum
	National Museum of Science and Industry
	National Museums and Galleries of Wales
	National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside
	National Museums of Scotland
	National Portrait Gallery
	National Radiological Protection Board
	NMSI Trading Ltd
	North Hull Housing Action Trust
	Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (OPRA)
	Office of the Information Commissioner
	Parole Board
	Parole Board for England and Wales
	Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council
	Police Complaints Authority
	Public Lending Right and Public Lending Right Advisory Committee
	Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
	Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales
	Radio Authority (OFCOM)
	RBG Kew Enterprises Ltd
	Reserve Forces and Cadet Association for East Anglia
	Reserve Forces and Cadet Association for the North West of England and Isle Of Man
	Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for Wales
	Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for Yorkshire and the Humber
	Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for Greater London
	Rowett Research Institute
	Royal Air Force Museum
	Royal Armouries Museum
	Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
	Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments in Wales
	Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
	Royal Households
	Royal Marines Museum
	Royal Naval Museum
	Royal Naval Submarine Museum
	Rural Development Commission
	Scottish Children's Reporter
	Scottish Council for Education Technology
	Scottish Crop Research Institute
	Scottish Enterprise Including
	Scottish Environment Protection Agency
	Scottish Executive
	Scottish Funding Councils
	Scottish Homes Residuary Body
	Scottish Law Commission
	Scottish Legal Aid Board
	Scottish Natural Heritage
	Scottish Qualifications Authority
	Sea Fish Industry Authority
	Sitpro Limited
	South East Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
	sportscotland
	Stonebridge Housing Action Trust
	Student Loans Company Limited
	Tai Cymru
	Tate Gallery
	Teacher Training Agency (TTA)
	The Arts Council of Wales Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru
	The Basic Skills Agency
	The British Library
	The Design Council
	The English Sports Council
	The Forestry Commission Including Forest Enterprise and Forest Research
	The Hannah Research Institute
	The Horniman Public Museum and Public Park Trust
	The Housing Corporation
	The Millennium Commission
	The Museums Libraries and Archives Council
	The National Archives
	The Natural Environment Research Council
	The Natural History Museum (including The Natural History Museum Trading Co Ltd)
	The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
	The Scottish Arts Council
	The Sports Council for Wales
	The United Kingdom Sports Council
	The Wallace Collection
	The Wessex Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
	The Westminster Foundation for Democracy
	Tower Hamlets Housing Action Trust
	Traffic Director for London
	United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
	V and A Enterprises Ltd
	Valuation Tribunals
	Victoria and Albert Museum
	VisitBritain
	VisitScotland
	Wales Tourist Board
	Waltham Forest Housing Action Trust
	Welsh Language Board
	Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery And Health Visiting
	West Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
	Wine Standards Board

Small Businesses: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people have been employed in the small business sector in  (a) Tamworth constituency and  (b) Staffordshire in each year since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK statistics authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated April 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question concerning how many people have been employed in the small business sector in (a) Tamworth constituency and (b) Staffordshire in each year since 1997.
	Table 1 shows the number of employees within the size-band 0-49 employees from 1998 to 2007. Figures for 1997 are not available.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of employees in the employee size-band 0-49 
			  Period  Tamworth constituency  Staffordshire 
			 1998 19,100 151,800 
			 1999 17,900 146,000 
			 2000 18,900 155,500 
			 2001 18,400 152,900 
			 2002 19,400 158,600 
			 2003 19,500 157,100 
			 2004 19,500 158,100 
			 2005 19,400 156,800 
			 2006 19,400 157,300 
			 2007 19,400 157,000 
			  Note: Estimates for 2005 and earlier periods are on a different basis to those from 2006 onwards. A preliminary assessment of changes in survey methodology suggests that the estimated total number of employees (for GB at the whole economy level) was reduced by around 1 per cent. Direct comparisons of employee estimates should therefore be treated with caution.  Source: Annual Business Inquiry.

Taxation: Income

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer of 11 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 308-9W, on taxation: income, if he will publish an updated copy of table 14A of the Effects of Taxes and Benefits on Household Income, broken down by the age of the household's reference person in five year bands from the ages of 20 to 80 years rather than by household income deciles, for the latest year for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated April 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking with reference to the Answer of 11 June 2008, Official Report, columns 308-9W, on taxation: income, if he will place in the Library an updated copy of table 14A of the Effects of Taxes and Benefits on Household Income, broken down by the age of the households reference person in five year bands from the ages of 20 to 80 years rather than by household income deciles, for the latest year for which figures are available. (270208)
	The table requested is provided here for the year 2006/07, the latest period for which figures are available. This table will also be provided to the House of Commons Library.
	Average incomes, taxes and benefits have been presented with households grouped in five year bands according to age of the household reference person (HRP). To ensure that all households are classified, an age group for households where the HRP is aged 80 or over has been included. Households where the HRP is under 20 (of which there are relatively few) are classified in the same group as those where the HRP is aged 20 to 24.
	The information in this response is based on the Expenditure and Food Survey, which has a sample size of approximately 6,400 households. When breaking down this sample into age bands the sub-samples become quite small. The estimates for all of the age groups are based on sub-samples of around 370-710 households. With such small sample sizes, caution should be exercised when drawing any conclusions from these estimates. As an indication of sampling variability, the 95 per cent confidence interval for average gross household income for all households is approximately �2.8 per cent. When disaggregating the information to smaller sub-groups, such as household age groups, the sampling variability will be greater due to a smaller sample size.
	
		
			  Average household incomes, taxes and benefits by age of household reference person, 2006-07 
			   Household reference person age groups 
			   25  25-29  30-34  35-39  40-44  45-49  50-54  55-59  60-64  65-69  70-74  75-79  79  All house-holds 
			  Average per household  ( per year)   
			 sample number in each band 181 403 477 625 708 647 549 574 543 446 468 366 401 6,388 
			  Number of households in the population (thousand) 872 1,620 1,903 2,502 2,788 2,474 2,177 2,232 1,975 1,547 1,652 1,262 1,832 24,836 
			
			  Original income   
			 Wages and salaries 17,713 28,822 33,988 34,435 31,895 36,387 34,005 27,071 17,298 3,794 1,670 1,083 372 23,000 
			 Imputed income from benefits in kind 165 246 540 458 561 440 549 435 204 55 8 9 17 325 
			 Self-employment income 840 2,611 3,907 4,300 3,880 5,329 4,447 3,632 3,403 1,405 475 130 334 3,036 
			 Occupational pensions, annuities  5 77 145 171 453 1,038 2,599 6,219 7,337 6,948 5,571 4,405 2,431 
			 Investment income 134 161 420 813 958 616 1,178 1,581 1,784 1,636 2181 1,495 1,083 1,088 
			 Other income 619 481 148 297 432 181 75 90 56 37 59 78 120 199 
			 Total 19,470 32,327 39,080 40,448 37,897 43,406 41,292 35,409 28,964 14,263 11,342 8,366 6,331 30,080 
			
			  Direct benefits in cash   
			  Contributory   
			 Retirement pension  24 67 79 104 159 113 241 2,659 7,291 7,379 7,126 6,165 2,047 
			 Jobseeker's allowance (Contribution based) 12 12  29 10 21 35 34 9 5  21 5 16 
			 Incapacity benefit 21 80 131 165 231 233 480 478 472 107 85 54 61 224 
			 Widows' benefits   21 18 20 28 40 47 10   16  18 
			 Statutory Maternity Pay/Allowance 64 110 254 80 84 23 23 27  53 
			
			  Non-contributory   
			 Income support and pension credit 464 432 376 385 339 404 410 276 576 332 298 396 573 400 
			 Child benefit 302 492 694 933 905 603 338 106 40 18 7 3 4 396 
			 Housing benefit 688 672 432 510 323 353 467 366 417 440 442 423 530 448 
			 Jobseeker's allowance (Income based) 85 46 46 58 38 47 63 48   8 12 35 38 
			 Invalid care allowance  17 41 28 49 79 25 61 34 91 16 32 41 42 
			 Attendance allowance 2 5  29 28 30 61 226 262 42 
			 Disability living allowance 42 42 182 121 204 342 326 380 503 531 351 254 112 268 
			 War pensions/War widows' pensions   3 11  9 34 55 6 9 47 48 134 27 
			 Severe disablement allowance  1 33 29 20 33 48 57 53 26 40 68 55 36 
			 Industrial injury disablement benefit2 15 19 17 28 29 25 22 10 26 15 
			 Student support 379 211 61 72 72 93 73 56 11  5   69 
			 Government training schemes 4  4 6 8 14 15 7 0  0 0  5 
			 Tax credits(1) 586 695 627 735 559 373 192 44 15 22311 
			 Other non-contributory benefits(2) 48 34 32 24 28 31 146 32 178 230 249 253 487 125 
			
			 Total cash benefits 2,694 2,868 3,004 3,286 3,012 2,872 2,845 2,371 5,041 9,158 9,011 8,940 8,488 4,580 
			
			 Gross income 22,164 35,194 42,084 43,734 40,909 46,278 44,137 37,780 34,005 23,421 20,353 17,305 14,819 34,661 
			
			  Direct taxes and Employees' NIC   
			 Income tax 2,423 4,920 6,551 6,976 6,365 7,382 6,680 5,573 4,942 2,553 1,970 1,110 908 4,954 
			  Less: Tax credits( 3) 111 297 270 324 318 197 112 46 13 4 3 4 9 148 
			 Employees' NI contributions 1,222 2,075 2,350 2,215 2,124 2,225 2,332 1,843 1,109 251 102 79 25 1,528 
			 Council tax and Northern Ireland rates(4) 783 893 1,034 1,081 1,129 1,138 1,144 1,171 1,193 1,148 1,132 1,097 1,035 1,093 
			  Less: Council tax benefit/Rates rebates 176 109 97 107 77 92 124 108 134 180 187 216 289 137 
			 Total 4,141 7,481 9,569 9,841 9,223 10,456 9,919 8,433 7,097 3,768 3,014 2,067 1,670 7,290 
			
			 Disposable income 18,024 27,713 32,516 33,893 31,685 35,822 34,218 29,347 26,908 19,653 17,339 15,238 13,149 27,370 
			
			 Equivalised disposable income 17,931 27,706 31,953 29,475 26,853 28,972 28,275 28,594 26,814 22,165 19,840 18,101 17,286 25,831 
			
			  Indirect taxes   
			  Taxes on final goods and services   
			 VAT 1,577 2,084 2,294 2,441 2,638 2,643 2,505 2,266 2,255 1,656 1,559 1,201 831 2,104 
			 Duty on tobacco 488 355 417 329 374 314 334 462 185 261 201 121 82 306 
			 Duty on beer and cider 152 148 138 132 148 160 155 140 120 79 66 34 22 120 
			 Duty on wines and spirits 223 155 129 145 161 168 179 183 158 122 113 100 77 148 
			 Duty on hydrocarbon oils 408 446 524 551 563 632 653 513 447 367 280 171 110 463 
			 Vehicle excise duty 75 107 138 158 157 177 181 156 164 130 118 82 54 138 
			 Television licences 114 124 130 125 141 126 129 126 125 124 118 4 0 111 
			 Stamp duty on house purchase 68 207 321 188 245 123 119 154 171 156 71 67 54 159 
			 Customs duties 27 30 31 33 35 36 35 30 30 23 21 17 14 29 
			 Betting taxes 7 24 25 31 33 39 40 49 54 44 36 40 38 36 
			 Insurance premium tax 24 40 45 50 54 57 59 50 53 42 45 37 24 47 
			 Air passenger duty 7 37 16 25 46 44 28 29 44 43 32 22 5 31 
			 Camelot National Lottery Fund 9 26 30 43 58 60 68 82 71 62 63 52 33 53 
			 Other 19 5 24 14 23 12 24 33 16 14 37 6 3 18 
			
			  Intermediate taxes   
			 Commercial and industrial rates 250 280 288 306 326 332 321 279 276 209 195 156 127 268 
			 Employers' NI contributions 441 493 508 540 574 586 566 491 486 369 344 276 223 472 
			 Duty on hydrocarbon oils 151 168 174 184 196 200 193 168 166 126 118 94 76 162 
			 Vehicle excise duty 13 14 14 15 16 17 16 14 14 11 10 8 6 13 
			 Other 254 284 293 311 330 337 326 283 280 212 198 159 128 272 
			
			 Total indirect taxes 4,305 5,025 5,538 5,620 6,119 6,062 5,932 5,510 5,113 4,050 3,624 2,646 1,907 4,950 
			
			 Post-tax income 13,718 22,688 26,978 28,273 25,567 29,760 28,286 23,837 2,1795 15,603 13,715 12,593 11,242 22,420 
			
			  Benefits in kind   
			 Education 4,339 1,853 2,241 3,895 4,651 3,705 2,348 708 386 97 77 13 17 2,042 
			 National health service 2,499 2,504 3,000 2,859 2,813 2,732 2,727 2,398 2,791 3,460 4,070 6,084 8,578 3,462 
			 Housing subsidy 42 14 13 14 14 13 20 20 19 15 10 20 16 17 
			 Rail travel subsidy 54 55 48 54 45 46 39 36 32 12 9 6 6 36 
			 Bus travel subsidy 56 56 41 39 37 61 60 49 98 120 131 125 117 72 
			 School meals and welfare milk 48 62 44 55 34 36 17 4 5 2  0  24 
			 Total 7,038 4,544 5,386 6,916 7,595 6,593 5,211 3,214 3,331 3,707 4,298 6,248 8,735 5,651 
			
			 Final income 20,756 27,233 32,364 35,188 33,162 36,353 33,496 27,051 25,127 19,310 18,013 18,841 19,977 28,071 
			 (1) Child tax credit and working tax credit. (2) Includes age-related payments. (3) Including tax relief at source on life assurance premiums.  Source: Office for National Statistics

Community Relations

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, column 477W, on community relations: finance, what national projects aimed at preventing violent extremism are under way.

Sadiq Khan: National projects aimed at preventing violent extremism fall into three broad areas of work as follows:
	Supporting Faith Capacity and Leadership;
	Community Capacity and Leadership;
	Local Leadership and delivery;
	Specific projects underway are listed as follows:
	 Specific projects
	Contextualising Islam in Britain;
	Islam and Citizenship Education (this is CLG's contribution. DCSF have also contributed jointly); Radical Middle Way;
	Charity Commission's Faith and Social Cohesion Unit;
	Piloting of the minimum standards for Muslim chaplains engaged by public institutions;
	Faith Community Development Qualification for faith leaders;
	Improvement and Development Agency (for Local Authorities);
	Creative Partnerships to promote positive alternative activities for young people.
	In addition, research and communications work also support the workstreams and projects listed above. The Community Leadership Fund also funds specific projects on preventing violent extremism.
	For further detail I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 23 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 872-78W.

Community Relations

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, column 477W, on community relations: finance, how many national Prevent-related projects were delivered by subcontractors; and how the performance of those subcontractors was monitored.

Sadiq Khan: One national Prevent-related project is part delivered through a sub-contracting arrangement. Three national Prevent-related projects have sub-contracted the evaluation of their delivery. It is the responsibility of the contractor to monitor the sub-contractor.
	For information regarding the Community Leadership Fund I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given him today to PQ 270568 and for information on the Young Muslims Advisory Group I refer him to the answer I have given him to PQ 270416.

Community Relations

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, column 477, on community relations, if she will publish  (a) a breakdown by project of the 8.5 million spent on Prevent-related projects in the financial year 2008-09 and  (b) a breakdown by year of funding allocated by the Community Leadership Fund.

Sadiq Khan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 23 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 872-78W.

Community Relations: Islam

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 234-6W, on community relations: Islam, how many of the organisations which receive funding from the Preventing Violent Extremism Community Leadership Fund are using subcontractors to deliver projects; and what mechanisms are in place to monitor the performance of such subcontractors.

Sadiq Khan: 21 organisations receiving funding from the Preventing Violent Extremism Community Leadership Fund are using subcontractors to deliver elements of their projects. The grant recipients are responsible for monitoring the performance of subcontractors and have their own mechanisms in place for doing so. As part of their funding agreement with us, grant recipients are obliged to report on the progress of their projects on a six monthly basis.

Council Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 976-7W, on local government finance, when she expects her Department to conclude its consultation on changes to housing finance rules which would allow local authorities to keep the full income and capital returns on investments in new council housing; and how many responses have been received to date.

Iain Wright: The consultation on excluding new council housing from housing revenue account subsidy and pooling closed on 17 April 2009. We have received 98 written responses. These will be considered and taken into account before decisions are made on how to implement the proposals.

First Time Buyers

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people have applied for assistance under the first-time buyers initiative; how many applications have been granted; and what the average level of support provided has been.

Iain Wright: Since the start of the FTBI programme, 37,455 applications have been registered where the applicant has either specifically mentioned FTBI or included it as one of the HomeBuy products that they are considering. Therefore, the number is not exclusively comprised of FTBI applications.
	Of the total number of applications, around 30,275 have been approved as eligible for the HomeBuy products, including FTBI.
	In terms of the average level of support provided, an average contribution of about 72,500 has been made in each purchase.

Homes and Communities Agency: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what additional funding will be provided for the Homes and Communities Agency as a result of the 2009 Budget; what schemes this funding will be used to support; and in which region each such scheme will be.

Margaret Beckett: As a result of the Budget 2009 the HCA will receive an additional 635 million. This is broken down as follows:
	400 million to unlock currently stalled developments by providing development finance, and additional funding for social and affordable housing, including help for first time buyers.
	50 million to enable local authorities to deliver new social housing over the next two years.
	Up to 80 million to support delivery of the Mortgage Rescue Scheme which is being extended to enable households in negative equity (up to a maximum of 120 per cent. loan to value) to access the scheme.
	84 million to provide cavity wall insulation in the social sector.
	21 million for investment in innovative low-carbon heating systems which support housing developments.
	These programmes will be administered nationally and sites will be selected against criteria including value for money, deliverability and affordability. Nevertheless, the Government expect a good regional distribution of projects and has asked regional partners for their priorities.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) local authorities and  (b) registered social landlords offered cash incentive schemes to assist their tenants to purchase their homes in each of the last 10 years.

Iain Wright: The number of English local authorities giving cash incentive scheme grants in the last 10 years is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 1997-98 208 
			 1998-99 188 
			 1999-2000 84 
			 2000-01 72 
			 2001-02 56 
			 2002-03 52 
			 2003-04 46 
			 2004-05 42 
			 2005-06 47 
			 2006-07 44 
			 2007-08 37 
			  Source:  HSSA (2001-02present), HIP Annual Plan (1997-982000-01) as reported by 354 local authorities. 
		
	
	The figures supplied count the number of local authorities giving cash incentive scheme grants and will not include any local authorities offering cash incentive scheme grants that were not taken up in that year.
	In terms of registered social landlords, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the member for Regent's Park and Kensington North (Ms Buck) on 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 322W.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  on what date the first property was sold under Homebuy Direct; and how many properties have been sold under this scheme;
	(2)  what the average level of financial support from the public purse has been for a home purchased under the Homebuy Direct scheme;
	(3)  how many properties have been purchased through the Homebuy Direct scheme in each region; and what the average price of a property purchased through the scheme has been to date.

Margaret Beckett: The first HomeBuy Direct completions occurred during week commencing 20 April. Detailed sales data for the scheme is compiled and analysed on a monthly basis. This will be available early next month.

Non-Domestic Rates: Ports

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 750-1W, on non-domestic rates: ports, if she will publish the address and rateable value of each hereditament in each port  (a) pre-review and  (b) post-review.

John Healey: The 2005 non-domestic rating list is published on the website of the Valuation Office Agency and is available to inspect at:
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/index.htm
	A single rating list has been compiled for each billing authority area and the Valuation Office Agency do not hold separate lists of properties attributable to smaller locations such as ports. The information requested could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

Shared Ownership Schemes

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many properties bought through shared ownership schemes have been repossessed in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what assistance her Department provides to owners of a property bought through a shared ownership scheme who are at risk of repossession.

Iain Wright: Data on the number of shared ownership properties which have been repossessed is collected by individual housing associations and is not held centrally.
	The Government are determined to do everything possible to ensure families facing possible repossession have the chance to remain in their homes, and that repossession is always the last resort. The 280 million Government Mortgage Rescue Scheme was rolled out across England at the beginning of this year. The scheme will help up to 6,000 of the most 'vulnerable' households (families with dependent children, or those containing elderly, ill or disabled people) who would be entitled to homelessness assistance, if repossessed.
	Shared owners do not generally have the need for assistance from this programme because housing associations were able to reinvest capital grant held in their recycled capital grant funds for the priority purpose of helping shared owners at risk of repossession. This help includes the option of a lower level of home ownership or a rental option.

Young Muslims Advisory Group

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what projects the Young Muslims Advisory Group  (a) ran in 2008-09 and  (b) is expected to run in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11; what funding has been allocated to such projects in each of the three years; which such projects have been subcontracted to third parties; and how the performance of subcontractors will be monitored.

Sadiq Khan: The Young Muslims Advisory group was launched in October 2008 and will run for a two year period.
	In 2008-09 the YMAG delivered a national youth conference in Leeds which over 320 young people of all faiths aged 15-25 from across England attended. The total cost of this event was 110,000.
	In 2009-10 the group will be taking forward projects on research, communication and civic participation. Funding has not yet been allocated to these projects.
	The promotion and branding of the YMAG was subcontracted to a creative agency. This organisation is a regular partner on Prevent work. Their work is monitored through regular meetings and evaluation reports.

Insulation: Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what effect the planned changes to the carbon dioxide emissions reduction target announced on 12 February 2009 will have on achievement of the Government's target of insulating cavity walls.

Joan Ruddock: The central proposal in the CERT amendment consultation of February 2009 is for a 20 per cent. increase to the carbon saving obligation on energy suppliers, to set an enhanced ambition of 185 MtCO2 by March 2011. As a market mechanism, it is at energy suppliers' discretion how they choose to meet this more ambitious target. Insulation remains one of the most cost effective measures at their disposal to promote. Of suppliers' savings towards their current targets in the first nine months of the scheme, 62 per cent. came from insulation.

Standard Assessment Tests

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent assessment is of the effectiveness of Key Stage 2 Standard Assessment Tests; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: Mr. Speaker, over the last 10 years, testing and assessment have played a vital role in ensuring that more than 100,000 more pupils leave primary school secure in English and maths. As I said to this House in October, the Key Stage 2 tests provide an objective measure of pupils' performance, and a recent survey confirmed that they are greatly valued by parents.
	The Expert Group on assessment that I established last October will shortly publish their advice on further improvements to the assessment system.

Apprenticeships: Keighley

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many 16 and 17-year-olds in Keighley constituency were undertaking an apprenticeship in 2008.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: 80 people aged 16 to 17 completed an Apprenticeship, in Keighley in 2007-08. The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill aims to ensure an apprenticeship place is available for all suitably qualified young people by 2013 and is key to delivering our ambition for one in five young people to be in an apprenticeship in the next decade. We have announced an additional 140 million to provide 35,000 additional places this year, 21,000 of these in the public sector.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1951W, on the education maintenance allowance, how many students have  (a) received a notice of entitlement for the education maintenance allowance,  (b) successfully enrolled for the allowance and  (c) received at least one payment since September 2008.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) who operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). Geoffrey Russell, the LSC's acting chief executive, will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.

Islam and Citizenship Education Project

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many area-based consultants are involved in delivering the Islam and Citizenship Education project; what funding they receive; how this is monitored; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: One area lead has been appointed to manage the piloting of the Islam and Citizenship Education (ICE) Project in each of the six pilot areas (with two for the Bradford and Kirklees area). Each receives 5,500 for this work (divided into two for Bradford/Kirklees). They have each been contracted by the School Development Support Agency (SDSA), which manages the ICE Project on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Communities and local government. Their role is to recruit and support five madrassahs to pilot the programme of lessons. The SDSA monitors the area leads through regular contact and quarterly formal meetings.

Literature: GCSE

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many boys in  (a) maintained and  (b) independent schools were entered for an English literature GCSE examination in (i) 1997, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2008; and how many in each category achieved (A) grade A*, (B) at least grade C and (C) grade D or lower in each year.

Jim Knight: The answer is provided in the following table.
	
		
			   2008  2005  1997 
			  GCSE English literature  Maintained  Independent  Maintained  Independent  Maintained  Independent 
			 Number of entries 228,186 18,774 234,888 18,717 201,949 18,075 
			 Grade A* 6,753 2,743 5,810 2,579 2,817 1,394 
			 At least grade C 140,280 17,492 131,552 17,444 101,258 16,459 
			 Grade D or lower 82,008 1,237 96,006 1,190 94,231 1,535 
			  Source: Achievement and Attainment Tables. 
		
	
	Data for 2008 and 2005 is based on pupils at the end of key stage 4.
	Data for 1997 is based on 15-year-old pupils at the start of the school year.

National Curriculum Tests

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what remuneration he expects Dr Ken Boston to have received from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority between the date of his suspension and 11 June 2009.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: This is a matter for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). Andrew Hall, Acting Chief Executive of QCA, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	 Letter from Andrew Hall, dated 23 April 2009:
	The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families has asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) to respond to your question concerning the remuneration Dr. Ken Boston will receive between the date of his suspension from the QCA and 11 June 2009.
	I can confirm that the QCA expects to pay Dr. Ken Boston approximately 180,000 in that period, which brings his contract with the QCA to an end. This payment includes contractual entitlements only. No special severance payments will be made to Dr. Boston, except in so far as he will not be required to work out his full period of notice to 11 June 2009. Similarly, no performance bonus for this latest period nor any pension enhancement will be paid.

Outdoor education: Finance

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what support his Department has made available to  (a) small and  (b) independent organisations which provide learning experiences to develop their capacities and capabilities to meet the quality requirements of the Learning Outside the Classroom manifesto.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: As part of its pledge of support for the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Manifesto, the Department, working with representatives from across the full range of organisations providing learning outside the classroom, has developed the LOtC Quality Badge. It is awarded to providers of any size who have pledged to engage in an on-going process to sustain high quality learning outside the classroom. For those organisations that provide activities that are deemed to have a lower requirement in terms of risk management there is a new 'Code of Practice'. This route includes an online self assessment and guidance, with a 10 per cent. sampling of Quality Assurance visits. Nine Manifesto sectors for example, heritage, natural environment and arts and creativity, have champion trainers whose role is to lead training events for organisations interested in achieving the Quality Badge.
	This is not a compulsory scheme. However, we hope that providers will see the benefit of the Quality Badge in reviewing and improving their own offer. It provides a framework for organisations to work in partnership with schools, youth groups and local authorities, and be confident they are providing inspirational experiences that meet young people's needs.

Sixth Form Education: Finance

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funding allocations have been made to schools in each London borough in respect of post-16 education in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 24 April 2009
	This is a matter for the LSC, Geoff Russell, the LSC's Acting Chief Executive will respond with the information you have requested. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.
	We have been working across Government to identify additional funding for the recent unanticipated surge in demand for education and training in part due to these exceptional economic times. Thanks to the 655 million funding announcement in the Budget, we will be able to deliver this and more, and fund learning for an additional 54,500 young people this year and next.
	This will mean that we have funding for at least 1,550,000 for 2009/10 and 2010/11.